Baker County woman sues after Rolex goes missing at Norfolk airport

She says the $24,000 watch was lost at Virginia security checkpoint.

Pauline Showalter says this $24,000 Rolex, a gift from her husband, went missing after she went through an airport security check.

Imagine being ordered by airport security workers to put your very expensive watch on a scanning belt, over your objections. Then imagine going to retrieve it and it’s gone.

A Baker County woman says that experience at Norfolk International Airport in Virginia last year cost her a $24,000 Rolex her husband saved up to buy her on her 50th birthday.

Now she’s suing the U.S. Transportation Security Administration after the agency rejected her claim letter and her congressman unsuccessfully attempted to intervene.

The lawsuit, filed in Jacksonville federal court this month, accuses TSA of negligence and bailment, a legal term that makes someone holding another’s property responsible if it is lost.

“Basically they called me a liar. They treated me like crap,” said Paulene Showalter, 63, of Glen St. Mary. Showalter is secretary to Duval County Public Defender Matthew Shirk.

TSA spokeswoman Lauren Gaches said Friday the agency couldn’t comment on a specific case in litigation. She said about 2.5 million pieces of luggage pass through screening daily at U.S. airports, and missing property reports total about 45 a day, less than a hundredth of 1 percent.

In a November letter denying Showalter, TSA’s claims office in Virginia said there were “no legally sustainable grounds” for a finding of liability against the agency.

Showalter’s attorney, Howard Coker, said TSA contends Showalter never had a Rolex on her wrist that day, something she vehemently denies. Security cameras apparently weren’t working, according to Showalter and TSA’s response to inquiries by U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla.

“We have eyewitnesses who say she did have this type of watch, including one who saw it on the day in question,” Coker said.

Showalter said she was preparing to board a return flight to Jacksonville last February when she was ordered by security officers to put her watch in a bin and place it on a conveyor belt. She said she objected several times but was told she had no choice if she wanted to board her flight, so eventually she complied.

“I said, 'If I take it off, will you hold it?’ 'No.’ ” she recalled.

When she was put through an additional security check, she again asked to be allowed to retrieve her watch first. Again, the answer was no, she said.

When she finally returned to the conveyor belt, the Rolex was gone.

“She did everything that they asked her to do. She wasn’t belligerent in any way,” Coker said. “All she wanted to do was get her property before they took her through the scanner.”

In its response to Crenshaw, TSA said passengers can choose to wear jewelry through the walk-through metal detector or can retrieve it immediately after exiting the X-ray. If it requires additional screening, it is inspected in view of the owner, the agency said.

If the passenger receives secondary screening, as Showalter did, TSA policy doesn’t require property be brought to them if they can see it, the agency told Crenshaw.

Showalter said she became hysterical after realizing the watch was gone. She called Shirk for advice. She asked for police to be called, but security officers told her she was disrupting the area and had to leave.

Eventually police were called after she ran into a lawyer co-worker at the airport, she said.

Coker said Showalter did everything she could to resolve the matter through non-legal channels. He said the lawsuit was filed before the statute of limitations ran out last week to preserve her claim.

He said if the statements made to Crenshaw are true, then TSA violated its own policies.

“They have a duty to be certain that all items are to be returned to the traveler,” Coker said. “They can’t abdicate that duty.”

As a former sworn TSA agent, I, for one, can attest to the fact that there are a lot of corrupt employees. The most corrupt being the supervisors and managers. They steal, they harass and above all, they believe they have the right and power to do as they wish to anyone. Unfortunately, because not enough law suits have come forward, a lot of the times, they will and do get away with it. There are a lot of good people too but as the saying goes, a few rotten apples always spoil the bunch and in this case, it is never more true.

I wouldn't be far off if I said I believe 60% of the employees employed by TSA are work place flunkies that go around acting big, talking big and smelling really bad lol.

I am a former agent because I was let go after I reported the manager, a couple site supervisors and a few fellow employees in for allowing their friends to smuggle prohibited, and downright illegal (such as guns, ammunition etc.), items onto the plane as well for extreme sexual harassment and other forms of abuse and unlawful actions to other employees, airport personnel and / or passengers.

Now I have to also add, that not only was I employed by TSA but I was also employed by another government agency, at the same time, that required me to maintain law and order in and on Federal property but because I was in the role of another agency, I just couldn't detain them by slapping the cuffs on them and proceeding as usual. I had to go through the "proper" channels and those channels ended by me being fired to cover the illegal and unlawful actions of the others. I didn't lose my other position but I am not sorry that I am no longer working for the most corrupt and incompetent department such as them.

I really hope she wins her case and then some. I think it's time a little justice is reciprocated. Ever hear the news story about TSA selling the confiscated items in wholesale auctions like Ebay? Google it. You'll be amazed at what you find out.

Please tell me why you think this woman should be responsible for feeding the children in Africa just because she has worked hard all her life to obtain a watch that she wanted? I think you are jealous of her because she could afford a nice piece of jewelry. I get so sick of these bleeding hearts who think Americans should be taking care of children in other countries when we dont even take care of our own children who need help in this country. Who gives a crap about Africa. If you are so concerned about them send them your paycheck every week and stop belittling people who can afford expensive items.